hamster Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 Life laundry in full swing. How far back should one keep bills invoices etc? For example, is there any point in keeping more than one gas bill? Old mortgage statements and home and car insurance certificates are another thing I have tended to hoard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 The same happen to me including all my wage slips from when I started work 25 years ago! Much depends if you keep them to refer to later, if not bin them. I've saved so much space and haven't needed the paper work. Anything to do with the tax man I keep for 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Saint Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 Keep a years worth of utilities just in case you want to switch providers And 6 years worth of tax stuff e.g. P60s dividend vouchers - just in case hmrc come a calling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 I've kept every bank statement since 1990. They are stored in lever arch files in ascending order. Why, I don't know. Is there something wrong with me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 Last year I decided that I really didn't need my mobile phone bills from 1998 or my bank statements from when I opened my first account to get some china piggy banks. I also decided my car insurance documents and paperwork going back to 1991 were unlikely to be needed again, based on the fact I hadn't needed them for 19 years. Not surprisingly I'd never needed my saturday job payslips from the late 80's/ early 90's either! Why my parents raised me to keep all this guff just in case is beyond me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 I bin everything that's over 5 years old, with the exception of tax/wage slips, I keep all of them just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dellboypete Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 bought myself a multi purpose scanner/printer/copier/ thingy withan auto document feed. I've started going through the last 25 years of garbage and scanning them to pdf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 Normally bin all my bills when they arrive through the door. Rest of the paperwork I keep for about two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 I've started going through the last 25 years of garbage and scanning them to pdf. Good idea, you never know when you may need a pdf of your motor insurance certificate from 1986 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 Good idea, you never know when you may need a pdf of your motor insurance certificate from 1986 You'd be surprised what you do need sometimes, and what other information these documents can provide. Scanning to pdf is a sensible approach. That way you get rid of the stuff but can still access it. I'm still going through all my business records from 1978 and there is some fascinating info in there, some of which has been helpful with present customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 7 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 7 June, 2011 Bank statements. I've got hundreds, in fact I still have a whole 5 year file separate from my failed bank charges refund appeal. That's going to be my first shredding job on Thursday. It'll be a tough moment my first wage slipmformm1980 gets the treatment but they too are going Actually, anyone know the law on bonfires? I love bonfires and even my old man getting hauled down the guard room back in 1976's heatwave after the army MP's collared me for my treehouse bonfire in the woods hasn't quelled my love of fire and bonfires, I can watch one for hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 I chucked a tonne out the other day. If someone at the recycling plant wants to steal my identity they will have a field day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 I chucked a tonne out the other day. If someone at the recycling plant wants to steal my identity they will have a field day Is it worth having? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 If someone at the recycling plant wants to steal my identity they will have a field day I burt mine and stood guard to ensure there was nothing left. No way was I gonna let anyone see how much I deposited into my griffin savers account in 1985! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 Is it worth having? Ha! I wish someone would take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amesbury Saint Posted 7 June, 2011 Share Posted 7 June, 2011 The other thing to remember for every bank statement sent to you, the bank have a electronic copy of your bank account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 8 June, 2011 Share Posted 8 June, 2011 I chucked a tonne out the other day. If someone at the recycling plant wants to steal my identity they will have a field day I've burnt out one shredder with the back-log of confidenfial paperwork, but certainly worthwhile getting one but obviously not shredding in one mega session! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 8 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 8 June, 2011 I'd probably use the works shredder, it's a big beefy beast with Tge advantage of knowing the bin men will actually turn up at some point. I came across a shoebox full of old love letters under the bed in our spare room too. All from and to mrs h and myself I hasten to add. God, were we really that depraved!!! I'm lucky to get a smiley text nowadays let alone graphic promises of debauchery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 8 June, 2011 Share Posted 8 June, 2011 I've burnt out one shredder with the back-log of confidenfial paperwork, but certainly worthwhile getting one but obviously not shredding in one mega session! At home we have a policy of 'shred & burn'. I've heard that the American army have shown an interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 8 June, 2011 Share Posted 8 June, 2011 Bank statements. I've got hundreds, in fact I still have a whole 5 year file separate from my failed bank charges refund appeal. That's going to be my first shredding job on Thursday. It'll be a tough moment my first wage slipmformm1980 gets the treatment but they too are going Actually, anyone know the law on bonfires? I love bonfires and even my old man getting hauled down the guard room back in 1976's heatwave after the army MP's collared me for my treehouse bonfire in the woods hasn't quelled my love of fire and bonfires, I can watch one for hours. Are you a closet Arsonist? No! This is not homophobic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 8 June, 2011 Share Posted 8 June, 2011 If you're VAT registered I believe it's 6 years from when the enquiry window closes on the year in question. So on 1st February 2012 you can chuck everything from before 6th April 2004. If you're not VAT registered its 12 months so on 1st February 2012 you can bin everything before 6th April 2009. Or if you've ever been in the accounts department at Pompey, shred everything now. HTH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 8 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 8 June, 2011 /\ or burn it. Btw I burnt my closet years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 10 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 10 June, 2011 http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrZFBR7lsMg&feature=youtube_gdata_player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 10 June, 2011 Share Posted 10 June, 2011 Find someone you trust with a wood-burning stove - it makes great kindling and fire starting material and will them a bit of heat into the bargain. Anyway, you think you've got it bad - I'm a language teacher of various different levels from elementary school to adults and often keep materials "just in case". Plus I have to deal with two different tax systems... When I get back from the UK holiday this year I'm going to have fun with a new shredder and my wood-burner friend will have bags and bags of firelighter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 10 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 10 June, 2011 That's half of my life's paperwork up in flames there. God, that felt good and I now smell lovely and smokey. It's also a temp solution to the BinMen strike, it may jus catch on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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